Improvement in sheet-metal-spinning machines



'2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. E. WELLS.

SHEET-METAL SPINNING-MACHINE. Nu.187,946. Patented Feb.27,1877.

Wings.- I I ,Ezwmi'o PETERS, PHOTOiITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D c- 2Sheets-Sheet Z. J. ELWELLS.

SHEET-METAL SPINNING-MACHINE. v No.187,946. Patented Feb.2'7, 1877.

QI-M'M' a 6M W IL PETERS. PHOTOLITHOGRIPHER. WASHINGTON. D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. WELLS, OF NEW MILFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEET-METAL-SPINNING MACHlNES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 187,946, datedFebruary 27, 1877; application filed March 23, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES E. WELLS, of thetown of New Milford and State of (Jonnecticut, have invented anImprovement in a Machine for Making Metal Lids, of which the followingis a specification:

This invention has relation to means for forming metallic blanks intothe proper flanged shape for a lid or other article requiring that theedge shall be rolled or turned over at right angles, or at any otherangle; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of theexpanding and contracting sectors or edge-pieces connected with the headover which the rim-flange of the blank is spun; and, in combinationtherewith, the opposite head, which holds the metallic blank againstsaid sectors or edge-pieces, and the traveling spinning-tool, itsholding arms and carriage, and the shafts of the machine to which saidparts are connected, as hereinafter shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front View of thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a face view of the forminghead, showing theexpanding pieces in the position which they assume when the heads oftheir holding-pins are driven completely home, one pin being shown ineach quadrant, and the others not being represented in order that theslots may appear. Fig. 3 is a partial side view, showing the adjustableface-pieces of the head dropped or drawn inward toward the center of thehead to admit'of the re moval of the lid. Fig. 4 is a partial side view,showing the opposite heads between which the metal blank is received,and the adjustableface-pieces expanded between them. Fig. 5 is a partialside view, showing adjust able face-pieces adapted to form aninwardlybeveled edge on the rim, or to spin it gradual- 1y smaller fromflange to edge. Fig. 6 is a side view, showing the tool and an extraroll or plate for holding the metal while it is being operated upon.Fig. 7 is a side view of a beveled forming-head adapted to be used inthis machine. Fig. 8 is a top view'of the machine. Fig. 9 is a detachedview of the forming-head, showing the sections dropped, the uppersections being then in the contracted position, and the lower ones inthe expanded position.

In these drawings is presented a construction which will clearlyillustrate this invention.

The letter Z designates the frame of the machine, which may convenientlybe built in the ordinary rectangular form, with longitudinal andtransverse bars and corner uprights.

A represents the shaft of the main head, seated in suitable hearings inthe frame, and provided with a belt-pulley, L, or other means forcommunicating motion.

F designates the main forming-head. This is keyed, or otherwise rigidlysecured, to the inner end of the shaft A, so as to rotate with the same.It is provided on its inner face with adjustable sector-plates oredgesections I, forming an expansible face to the head, and connectedthereto by pins H, or other suitable devices, having beveledcam-surfaces b, designed to engage with corresponding countersunkperforations, slots, or surfaces of the edge-sections, which are shownat a, Fig. 2, of the drawings.

B represents a shaft of the machine, opposite to and in line with theshaft A, and seated in hearings in the frame Z, in such a manner that itshall have a certain amount of longitudinal play back and forth. To theinner end of this shaft is keyed, or otherwise secured, the head G,opposite the main head F, and designed, when pressed up against the sameby means of a lever, c, or otherwise, to hold the metallic blank firmly,and, at the same time, to force the upper ones outward, and hold thelower ones, which, by force of gravity, are already at their outermostposition.

In rear of the main head it may be advisable to apply upon the shaft aloose plate, J, which, being operated by a spring, d, will, when theheads are separated, press against the projecting ends of the pins H,and cause the upper ones of the edge sections 1 to drop or fall inward.

L represents a vibratory frame, pivoted to the main frame of the machineat D, in such a manner that it can be revolved forward over the heads Fand G, or backward away from the same, when desired. Through suitablehearings e at the end of this frame extends the shaft G of thspinning-tool N, having longitudinal motion therein.

P represents the traveling frame or carriage of the spinning-tool. Thisframe is pivoted by means of suitable arms to a rotary shaft, E, whichextends lengthwise of the machine, and is seated in journal-bearings inthe main frame. At an intermediate portion of the shaft E it is providedwith a screw-thread, f, which is designed to engage with a threadedaperture in the arm M of the traveling frame P, so that the latter willhave a steady and uniform motion in the direction of the length of themachine when this shaft is turned. At their upper ends the arms It ofthe frame P are provided with elongated slots or bearings g to engagewith the ends of the shaft 0 of the spinning-tool. In this mannersnfiicient play is given to said tool for oval or elliptical work.Sometimes it is desirable to put on the same shaft with the rotatingtool N a loose tool, which, being provided with a handle, can be heldsteadily against the work, thereby accomplishing the spinning andpolishing or smoothing in one and the same operation.

To operate the machine, place the metallic blank, as shown at 0, betweenthe face-plates I of the head F and the head G. Bring the latter, bymeans of its shaft, firmly against the blank, forcibly pressing itagainst the sections 1 and pins H, thereby expanding the upper of saidsections and holding the blank firm. The shaft 0 is then brought down bymeans of a foot-lever or other suitable device, in such a manner as tomake the tool N take efl'ect on the blank. Then the machine is put inmotion, and the spinning-tools carried over the metal by means of theframe P, and its screw-shaft E. The exterior or forming edges of thesections I may have any desirable form in section or profile. Usuallythey are de-, signed to form the fiange of the lid, the rim 1 being spunof smaller diameter to enter the mouth of the bucket or other article.In the spinning operation the blank is passed between the tool and anauxiliary plate, h, to keep it steady and prevent kinking or puckering.

When the lid is spun the tool is thrown back on its frame, and the shaftB with its pressure-head G moved away from the work. The upper sectionsI then drop, and the lid is easily detached from the head F, as bydrawing it off the under sections are raised by it upward and inwardtoward the center of the former F.

Modifications in the construction of this machine will readily occur tothose skilled in the art. Hence I do not desire to confine myself to theprecise details herein shown and described.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a metal-spinning machine, the forming-head F, having theadjustable expanding and contracting face-sections I, the margins ofwhich form a continuous guide for the spinning-tool, substantially asspecified.

2. In a metal-spinning machine, the combination, with the forming-head Fand its automatically-adjustable contracting and expandin gface-sections I, of the longitudinally-adjustable shaft B, and itspressure-head G, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the head F and its adjustable sections I, ofthe pressure-head G and the expanding pins H, substantially asspecified.

4. In a metal-spinning machine, the combination with the forming-head, Fand its automatically adjustable face-sections I, of the pressure-head Gand the traveling tool N, substantially as specified.

5. In a metal-spinning machine, the combination, with the vibratoryframe L, and its sliding shaft (J, carrying the spinning-tool, of thetraveling frame P, engaging with said shaft, and the screw-shaft E,substantially as specified.

JAMES E. WELLS.

Witnesses GEORGE G. WELLS, EDWARD J. WELLS.

